Product placement ban on British TV lifted

Interesting to follow the evolution of this Legal factor. Firstly, there was Economical pressures both at macro and micro level and then there is the Political as there was a clear indication in 2009 that a change in the Political Environment (government change) would change the Legal factors (see the FT article from 2009http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0fb9de6c-a15b-11de-a88d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1FGxSQQOd).


Product placement ban on British TV lifted
A ban on product placement has been lifted, allowing advertisers to pay for their goods to be seen on British TV.
Paid-for references to products and services are now permitted for the first time in shows produced in the UK, including soaps and one-off dramas.

Read the whole article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12593061

Diageo to buy Turkish spirits firm Mey Icki

Good example of how a large established player in mature markets, seeks expansion in emerging markets via M&A. This acquisition is consistent with Diageos previous international strategies.


Diageo’s Turkish Delight
Diageo’s acquisition of Turkey’s Mey Içki from private equity firm TPG Capital today was not a real surprise, as nascent talks between the drink makers were first reported here back in December last year.
For the London-based drinks giant the numbers appear to add up.

Read the whole article at:http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2011/02/21/diageo%E2%80%99s-turkish-delight/

Peugeot and BMW form hybrid components joint-venture

Good example of Collaboration, Network Level Strategy. This is a Joint Venture between to well established rival companies in the automarket. This collaboration concerns a segment of the market that none of them entered in the early stages. It concerns a Macro-External factor (technology) which was an uncertainty in the previous decade and has now created a new segment in the market. As usual most of JV are driven by R&D needs. It is also interesting to note that in other industry these companies would had considered a stronger collaboration (Merger?) but it is well established that European governmenets will not give in easily on such mergers.


Peugeot and BMW form hybrid components joint-venture

French car maker PSA Peugeot Citroen and Germany's BMW have extended their engine partnership by creating a joint venture to develop, purchase and produce powertrain components for hybrid vehicles.

Read the whole article at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/02/us-peugeot-bmw-idUSTRE71124V20110202

additional article with more analysis on the same topic: http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/110912/20110210/bmw-group-psa-peugeot-citro-n-electrification-venture-hybrid-technology.htm

Easyjet paint job makes fuel bills less of a drag

This is an example of how macro external factor (technology) can impact operations. It is an interesting one because nano-technology is always an uncertainty for scenario planning.

Easyjet paint job makes fuel bills less of a drag
By Jonathan Sumberg Transport reporter, BBC News

How to cut the costs of flying? It's one of the key questions facing the aviation industry.
With the price of a barrel of oil at about $100, airlines are having to think of new - and often ingenious - ways to save money.

Read the whole article at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12428667

Nokia and Microsoft form partnership

Very interesting development in the mobile phones industry. Good example of how to companies which have traditionally been leaders in their industries, and now are falling behind, have decided to react. It is interesting to note that Microsoft has continued its recent corporate strategy of responding to dynamics in industries (mobile phones and internet) which are not core for it (software) with strategic alliances.
Quite interesting and insightful commentary by Cellan-Jones, on the impact of organisational culture for the choice of partner on behalf of Nokia. It links well with the theories on Network Level Strategies which suggest that collaborations are more successful if organisational cultures are close between the partnering companies. Moveover, also useful to emphasise that there is significant difference in the organisational culture between two companies for the same country and environment (Microsoft and Google).

Nokia and Microsoft form partnership

Nokia has joined forces with Microsoft in an attempt to regain ground lost to the iPhone and Android-based devices.
The deal will see Nokia use the Windows phone operating system for its smartphones, the company said.
It means that Nokia's existing operating systems will be sidelined

Read the whole article at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12427680